I want to be 100% honest here because I need some straight answers & I want all the support I can get through this process.

I have been in recovery from drugs and alcohol for a little over two years now. I take my recovery very seriously & want to protect it. I have recently been told that there is a high rate of relapse in recovering people who get weight loss surgery because they can't use food to comfort themselves anymore.

Has anyone else had any experience with this issue. Please share with me. I want a happy healthy life free from addictions.

Id you are in recovery, how did you cope?

First off, good job recognizing this and keeping your sobriety a priority.

I am 12 years clean and sober, but I think once a person gets past a couple years, they have most of the tools to stay sober.

Folks with additictions are an interesting group. The behavior can continue after freedom from one of their vices in the form of another one. There is a forum on here that talks about cross-addictions. You give up one, and pick up another. I gained a lot of weight after geting sober and talked to my sponsor about it. He asked me to make a choice, be fat or dead. If I kept drinking I knew I was going to be dead, so ...

So, now that we are dealing with substance abuse, how do we add food to the mix? For me, it was to get the sleeve. I know several folks do not believe that food addiction is real, but I do. I believe food and the satiety of food does alter my brain chemistry. To get sober, we elimanate the substance all together. I know if I have one drink, I'm lost, but I have to have food. I've tried the 12 step philosophies with food to no avail.

Now, 7 months out, I am dedicated to my plan, which includes:

• Eating Proteins first with most meals (feel restriction better)
  
• Do not drink just before/during/right after eating
  
• Exercise - Run, Tabata, Spinning ... one day rest/week
  

With this plan and the sleeve, I can't lose control with food. It is not an option. The restriction keeps me under control and if I push it, you pay a penalty that you don't want repeated. That being slimes or feeling like cr@p.

Is it possible to cheat? Sure. Ignore the list above and you can actually gain weight, thought difficult to do. You can still make your diet with Taco Bell burritos and KFC. When I got sober, I had a moment of clarity where I threw my hands up and said, "I can't do this anymore. I'm going to die if I don't do something." Same thing happened regarding my WLS. My doctor was ready to put me on medications for diabetes and high blood pressure. I had sleep apnea and ... well, I had issues. I threw my hands up and said, "I can't do this anymore. I'm going to die if I don't do something."

So, I have approached this the same way I did 12 years ago. Knowing that failure means a casket, and my wife and kids don't want that. (I'm not a fan of that, either)

That is what keeps me on my program and keeps me dedicated to my recovery. This forum is my support group where we fight, love and learn.

Good luck and let me know if I can help you in any way. You don't have to white knuckle this alone.

Thank you so much for this reply! It was so helpful!

I am not in recovery. I just want to say that you are so wise to be addressing these things up front.

I don't know how you are with 12 step programs, but you can check out Overeaters Anonymous. Also, a good counselor with experience in eating disorders would be helpful. I know of one in Dallas, if I run into trouble I will be in her office ASAP.